Tentering and drying machine



April 7, 1931.

c. c. KENYON ERING AND DRYING MACHINE TENT Filed Deo.

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INVENTOR Patented pr. 7, 1931 STATES CHARLES C. KENYON', OF SOMERVILLE, NEW JERSEY TENTERING AND nRYrNG MACHINE Application filed December 28, i929. Serial No. 417,120. Y

This invention relates to tentering and drying machines. 1

@ne object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having im- 5 proved air circulatory means operating lengthwise of the layers of material that are being dried.

Another object of the invention -is the provision of a device of the nature set forth havin an improved arrangement of blowers where y power for the operation thereof is conserved. v

Another object of the invention is to furnish a device of the type mentioned having an improved heating means for operating with a high eiciency.

Another object of the invention is to create a device of the nature specified, having improved means permitting the air to enter the spaces between the consecutive layers of material at any or both ends thereof, and tof'sub.- stantially confine the air in said spaces.

A further object of the invention is to construct a machine of the class alluded to having comparatively few and simple parts, well adapted for inexpensive manufacture and assembling, providing flexibility in the operation, control, and handlin of the-machine under all conditions, an which machine is rugged, reliable and efficient to a high degree.

Other objects Vand advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specilication proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illus- 4 trated on the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are vdesignated by the same reference chara( ters throughout the several views.

In the drawing: y V Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the. same, with parts removed to show interior construction.

Generally described, this invention provides a tentering and drying machine having upper compartments.

an elongated casing divided by horizontal partitions or baiiies into a small bottom passage and relatively large superimposed upper and lower dryin compartments. A plurality of chains, or t e like, coacting with rollers, receive the material, and convey it downward in spaced horizontal layers through said'compartments and thence out through `the bottom passage. A f pair of blowers, one for each compartment, are'positioned at opposite ends of the machine. One of these blowers draws in air through the bottom duct, cooling the outgoing material, and both blowers coact to provide an air stream circulating through the lower and 65 An outlet blower discharges a portion of the air depending upon the moisture content thereof. Baines extend along the sides of the casing to confine the air substantially between the layers, said a baflies being so arranged as tol permit air to enter inter layer spaces that are closed by the roller. These side baffles may be removable for access to the interior of the machine for inspection or repair. Any suitable heating means is provided forthe machine, this including in one embodiment, steam coils in the spaces between the layers. A condenser coilmay be positioned at the inner end of the bottom air passage. so

By correlating the blowers 4as shown, an eflicient drying action at a minimum air pressure, andconsequently of power consumption is obtained. v

The advantages ofthe invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devicesmay be produced embodying less than the whole. Y

ItA will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The" accompanying drawing, n therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

Referringin detail -to the drawing, 10 denotes a device embodying the invention. The same includes any suitable elongated casing 11 having a top 12, side walls 13, and front and rear end walls 14 and 15. This casing may be insulated in any desired manner.

Extending lengthwise of the casing are horizontal partitions or baiiles 16 and 17. These may reach fromside to side of the casing, While their ends terminate in spaced relation to the end walls of the casing. The baiiie 16 may be in relative proximity to the bottom 18 of the casing to form therewith an air and cooling passage 19. The bathe 17 divides the casing into superimposed upper and lower drying compartments 20, 21.

To guide the material 22 through the casing, any suitable engaging means, such as endless chains coact with a plurality of conventional rollers 23. The latter are vertically spaced in the drying compartments. To permit the machine to operate on materials of varying width, the rollers may be made telescoping in the usual manner. To elongate or shorten the rollers, any conventional means may be used such as the vertical bars 24 which are moved toward or away from each other by screw bars 25."

The material 22 enters the casing at the top thereof at 26 and moves downward in a series of spaced layers extending longitudinally of the machine. These layers may extend in continuous formation through the drying compartments 20, 21, the material 22 finally passing through the bottom air and cooling passage 19, and thence out of the casing 27. I y

To provide an air circulatory system for the machine, intake and circulating blowers 28, 29 are positioned at opposite ends of the casing, in communication with the compartments 21 and 20 respectively. Although the blowers are shown on the Fcentral line of the casing, they may also be otherwise positioned. The relation of the blowers is further defined in that the blower 28 is at the inner end of the air and cooling passage 19.

The coactionr of the blowers is such that each steps up the pressure of the air received from the other blower, maintaining an economical and lo-w average pressure in the casing.

The blower 28 draws in air through the passage 19 according to arrows a, and discharges the same as indicated by arrows b through the inter layer spaces in compartment 21. The air is then received and its energy increased by the blower 29 which causes the same to flow through the spaces between the layers in compartment 20 as indicated by arrows c. A substantial part of this air is recirculated by the blower 28 as shown by arrows cl. The blower 28 thus constitutes a combined intake and recirculating device.

To cause the air to have a predetermined moisture content, an outlet blower 30 is positioned at any suitable point of the circulating stream, preferably where the air leaves the layers of the upper compartment. This blower exhausts from the casing a portion of the air so that the blower 28 will take in the same amount of fresh air through the passage 19. There is thus a direct functional relationship between blowers 28 and 30.

The outlet blower 30 is at the uppermost part of the casing so that it may preferably exhaust air from the upper layers in the compartment 2O and in decreasing proportion from the lower layers in the said compartment.

By offsetting the outlet blower at a side of the casing, the motor 31 thereof is accessible.

The blowers 28, 29 may be mounted on vertical wall portions 31, 32, which close the re spective compartments 20,121.

To afford an eliicient air circulation and with a minimum of leakage, the battles 16, 17 are provided with vertical oii'sets 33 having narrow openings at 34 for the passage of the material 22 and thev chains therefor. This arrangement lends itself to a simplified construction where the machine is designed to dry material of a given width. Then it is intended that the machine shall dry materials of varying widths, the openings at 34 must be correspondingly long, and any suitable telescoping means or plates (not shown) may be moved in conjunction with the bars 24 to open or close said openings to the proper extent. In that case, slots at 35 are provided in the baffles 16, 17 for the said bars 24, these slots being likewise closed by telescoping plates moved by the bars. This construction is clearly apparent and shown in greater detail in my copending application for patent filed of even date herewith.

To confine the air substantially to the spaces between the layers of material vertically extending side baiiies 36, which extend between the horizontal baiiies 16, 17 and between the latter and the top of the casing, are provided. These side baffles may be removable to permit access to the interior of the machine through any suitable openings or doors in the sides of the casing 11.

To permit air to laterally enter, at the sides of the casing, those spaces between the layers which are otherwise closed oi, the baffles 36 terminate at 37 in inward spaced relation to the ends of the layers. Further the ends 37 of the baliles may be angular to aford a proper approach for the air entering the said spaces." The baies 36 may be of uniform symmetrical construction and positioned substantially end to end in each compartment.

Any suitable heating means may be provided for the air, as, for example, a series of steam coils 38 positioned between the layers, and diminished in heating surface as the drying progresses.

A condenser coil 39 may be provided at the inner end of the passage 19. This coil 39 receives the steam from the coils 38 by any suitable connections, and heats the air which has left the passage 19. Thus conservation of heat is provided to a high degree.

I claim:

`l. A tentering and drying machine including` an elongated casing, meansl to support a material in a plurality of spaced layers lengthwise of the casing, baflle means dividing the casing into a plurality of superimposed drying compartments, a second baflie means providing a passage for the outgoing material,` blower means drawing in air through said passage, and circulating air through said compartments, and a wall for the blower means connecting the ends of the first and the second baille means to the blower means to cause a positive flow of the air by the blower means from said passage through said compartments successively.

2. A tentering and drying machine including an elongated casing, means to support a material in a plurality of spaced layers lengthwise of the casing, ballie means dividing the casing into a plurality of superimposed drying compartments, a second bafie means providing a passage for the outgoing material, an of the casing at the inner end of said passage drawing in air therethrough, said intake blower discharging the air through one of the compartments, a circulating blower at the other end of the casing drawing in air from the said compartment and discharging it through the other compartment, the intake blower receiving a portion of the air from said second compartment and discharging it with fresh air through the first mentioned compartment, and closures at the inlet end of each compartment through which the blowers discharge, the opposite ends of said compartments being open. n

3. A tentering and drying machine, including an elongated casing, means to support a material in a. plurality of spaced layers lengthwise of the casing, baiie means dividing the casing into a plurality of superimposed drying compartments, a second baffle means providing a passage for the outgoing material, an lntake blowerat one end of the casing at the inner end of said passage drawing in air therethrough, said intake blower discharging the air through one of the compartments, a circulating blower at the other end of the casing drawing in air from the said compartment and discharging it through the other compartment, the intake blower receiving a portion of the air from said second compartment and discharging it with fresh air through the first mentioned compartment, and means to exhaust into the atmosphere a portion of the air from the second compartment.

4. A tentering and drying machine, including an elongated casing, means to support a material ina plurality of spaced layintake blower at one end port a material 1n a plurality of spaced layers lengthwise of the casing, there being a plurality of the spaced layers in each compartment, baiiie means dividing the casing into a plurality of superimposed drying compartments, a second baffle means providinga passage for the outgoing material, an intake blower at one end of the casing at the inner end of said passage drawing in air therethrough, said intakei blower discharging the air through one of the compartments, a circulating blower at the other end of the casing drawing in air from the said comparement and discharging it through the other compartment, the intake blower receiving a portion of the air from said second compartment and discharging it with fresh air through the first mentioned compartment, means to exhaust into the atmosphere a portion of the air from the second compartment, and heating means for the air positioned in the spaces between the layers of material to separately, directly heat and dry the layers, the heating means having a substantially greater capacity for the second than for the iirst compartment.

5. A tentering vand drying machine, including an elongated casing, means to supers lengthwise of the casing, baille means dividing the casing into a plurality of upper and lower drying compartments, through which the material successively moves, a second battle means providing a passage for the outgoing materialv below the lower compartment, an inta-ke blower at one end of the casing at the inner end of said passage drawing in air therethrough, a closure wall connecting said intake blower with adjacent ends of both baliie means, said intake blower discharging air through the lower of said compartments, a circulating blower at the other end of the casing drawing in air from said lower `compartment and discharging it through the upper compartment, a second closure wall connecting the circulatlng blower with the first mentioned balile means and the casing, the intake blower communieating at its intake side with the upper compartment for discharging a portion of the air thereof mixed with air from said passage into the lower compartment, means to exhaust into the atmosphere another p0rtion of the air from the upper compartment, and heating means for the air positioned 1n the spaces between the layers of material.

6. A tentering Aand drying machine 1ncluding an elongated casing, means to support a continuous material in reversely folded spaced layers extending lengthwise ofthe casing, bae means extending in a similar manner and dividing the casing into compartments, and blower means disposed to circulate air through said compartments, said blower means including a plurality of spaced blowers to overcome frictional resistanoe to air ow at a comparatively 10W average pressure in the casing, and elements along the sides of the compartments con'ning the air to the spaces between the layers, said elements being spaced from the ends of certain of the layers to permit lateral entry of the air into said spaces that are closed by the folds of the material adjacent to the respective elements.

In testimony whereof I atX my signature.

CHARLES C. KENYON.l 

